title: Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome: imaging features and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) often leads to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been increasingly used to treat BCS patients with HCC. The purposes of this study were to illustrate imaging features in BCS patients with HCC, and to analyze the effects of TACE on BCS patients with HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  246 consecutive patients with primary BCS were retrospectively studied. 14 BCS patients with HCC were included in this study. BCS were treated with angioplasty and/or stenting, and HCC were managed with TACE. Imaging features on ultrasonography, CT, MRI, and angiography and the serum AFP level were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inferior vena cava block and stricture of hepatic venous outflow tract more frequently occurred. Portal vein invasion was found in only 2 patients (14.2%). Imaging studies showed that most nodules of HCC were near the edge of liver, irregular, more than 3 cm in diameter, heterogeneous mass and solitary (≤3 nodules). HCC in patients associated with BCS was isointense or hypointense in nonenhanced CT images, and exhibited heterogeneous enhancement during the arterial phase and washout during the portal venous phase on enhanced CT and MRI. The serum AFP level significantly declined after TACE treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BCS patients with inferior vena cava block and stricture of hepatic venous outflow tract seems to be associated with HCC. A single, large, irregular nodule with a peripheral location appears to be HCC. TACE can effectively treat HCC in BCS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Yong
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mao-Qiang
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Qing-Sheng
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D017130:Angioplasty; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004998:Ethiodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D015251:Epirubicin; D016685:Mitomycin; D004998:Ethiodized Oil